WebSphere Application Server V8.5 Administration and Configuration Guide for the Full Profile

Chapter 2. Installing WebSphere Application Server on distributed systems 41

Details about available arguments can be obtained using the following command:

IBMIM -help

Example 2-5 shows the command string to create a response file using the Installation

Manager GUI on a Windows platform. Running these commands launches the GUI wizards

where you select the appropriate repositories and packages, and then click Install to begin

the simulation and recording. To finish generation of the recording, close the Installation

Manager.

Example 2-5 Creating a response file using Installation Manager GUI mode

C:\IBM\InstallationManager\eclipse>IBMIM.exe -skipInstall "c:\temp" -record "c:\

temp\myResponceFile.xml"

To manually create a response file, you can use a sample response file and customize it to

suit your environment. Sample response files are at this website:

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/install/v1r5/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.sil

entinstall12.doc/topics/c_sample_response_files.html

Using response files

After you create a response file, you can use it to silently manage a package with Installation

Manager.

To use a response file, start the installation from the command line, and use the input

parameter to pass your response file, as shown in Example 2-6.

Example 2-6 Managing packages with a response file using silent mode

C:\IBM\InstallationManager\eclipse\tools>imcl.exe -acceptLicense -input C:\temp\

myResponceFile.xml -log C:\temp\silentInstall.xml

2.4 Customizing Installation Manager

Installation Manager operations can be customized by setting preferences, defining the way

repositories are configured, and so on. There are also tools to help with troubleshooting and

easy methods of keeping the Installation Manager software up to date.

2.4.1 Installation Manager preferences

You can influence how Installation Manager operates by configuring preferences for

repositories, appearance, files for rollback, help, Internet settings, Passport Advantage

settings, and updates. You can keep the default settings or modify the preferences to suit your

environment.

Important: You must record a response file on the same platform that you plan for the

installation. For example, to install on a computer running Microsoft Windows, you must

record the response file on a computer that runs Windows. If you plan installations for

multiple platforms, you must have a response file for each platform.

Important: Silent installation cannot install packages that are contained on multiple media

disks. Ensure that you are using a single repository location when you use silent mode.

42 WebSphere Application Server V8.5 Administration and Configuration Guide for the Full Profile

Installation Manager preferences can be modified using the GUI wizard mode console mode,

which is considered the easiest method.

To verify or modify preferences using the GUI, select File  Preferences. Figure 2-2 shows

available preferences that can be configured.

Figure 2-2 Installation Manager preferences

Here are the details for each preference setting:

 Repositories

This preference identifies any number of repositories to be used by Installation Manager

for installing, modifying, and updating packages.

 Appearance

This preference allows you to select whether or not to display the internal version of the

package being installed. With this setting, the internal version can be displayed during the

installation process, including the release number, year, month, day, and package ID. By

default, the internal version is not displayed.

 Files for Rollback

This preference allows use of the rollback feature to revert to a previous installed version

of an updated package. It is enabled by default.

 Help

This preference allows you to choose how help information is displayed. For example, help

contents can be launched in the help browser, which is the default setting or launched in

an external browser. You can also configure access to multiple information centers for

products you are installing, with options for including local or remote help and prioritizing

which information center is used first.

 Internet

This preference allows you to set options for proxy servers.

 Passport Advantage

This preference is used to establish the settings for a Passport Advantage site. Internet

connectivity is required for this option to be selected. By default, this option is not selected.

To enable it, select Connect to Passport Advantage, and you are prompted for a user

name and password for the service. Select Save password to save the user name and

password credentials.